pull him to safety

USAGE SUMMARY

"pull him to safety" is a correct and usable sentence in written English.
You can use it any time you need to communicate that someone should move another person to a safe place. For example: "The firefighter ran into the burning building and quickly pulled the young child to safety."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Sergeant Giunta charged into the wall of bullets to pull him to safety, Mr. Obama said.

The New York Times

It was too dangerous to pull him to safety, and he died on the street two days later.

The New York Times

Others tried to pull him to safety as blood poured onto the courtyard floor, the two officers said.

The New York Times

Digging their boots into the snow, the rest of the team managed to pull him to safety.

The New Yorker

Wisborn Simutombo, bleeding from his arms, legs and stomach, pleaded with friends to pull him to safety across the coal-dusted road.

The New York Times

Colleagues managed to drag the animal off him and pull him to safety, but the man was said to be bleeding heavily.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Luckily, someone pulled him to safety.

The New York Times

A sheriff's deputy pulled him to safety.

The New York Times

Kumar let go, and someone pulled him to safety.

The New Yorker

He said security officers beat him until other activists pulled him to safety.

The New York Times

At another point, a demonstrator shoved an officer to the ground, before another officer pulled him to safety.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pull him to safety" when describing a physical rescue action where someone is directly pulled away from danger. It implies immediate and decisive action.

Common error

Avoid using "pull him to safety" metaphorically for situations that don't involve a physical act of rescue. For instance, don't say "I pulled him to safety from financial ruin"; instead, use a more appropriate phrase like "I helped him avoid financial ruin."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pull him to safety" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a direct, physical action of rescuing someone from a dangerous situation. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct. This phrase is often used to describe heroic or life-saving events.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "pull him to safety" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable expression denoting a physical rescue from immediate danger. As validated by Ludwig AI, it is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While straightforward, its use should be limited to scenarios involving actual physical extraction from harm. When a similar meaning needs to be communicated but is lacking the context of imminent physical danger, consider using alternatives like "rescue him" or "bring him to safety" to ensure accuracy and relevance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rescue him

A more concise way of expressing the action of saving someone from danger.

bring him to safety

Focuses on the action of leading or guiding the person to a secure location.

get him out of harm's way

Emphasizes removing the person from a dangerous situation.

save him from danger

Highlights the act of preventing harm from befalling the person.

extract him from the perilous situation

A more formal and descriptive alternative emphasizing the dangerous nature of the situation.

help him escape

Focuses on assisting the person in getting away from a threatening situation.

aid his escape

A more formal way of saying help him escape.

move him to a secure location

Highlights the action of relocating the person to a safe place.

escort him to safety

Emphasizes the act of accompanying and protecting the person while moving to a safe location.

assist him in reaching safety

Focuses on helping the person to help themself to get to safety.

FAQs

How can I use "pull him to safety" in a sentence?

The phrase "pull him to safety" describes a physical act of rescuing someone from immediate danger. For example: "The firefighter managed to pull him to safety before the building collapsed."

What are some alternatives to "pull him to safety"?

You can use alternatives like "rescue him", "bring him to safety", or "get him out of harm's way" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "pull someone to safety" in a metaphorical sense?

While the phrase is typically used for physical rescues, using it metaphorically can be effective in certain contexts. However, ensure the metaphor is clear and resonates with your audience. Otherwise, use more precise language such as "help him avoid danger".

What's the difference between "pull him to safety" and "drag him to safety"?

"Pull him to safety" implies a more controlled and possibly less forceful action, while "drag him to safety" suggests a more urgent or difficult rescue, perhaps where the person is unconscious or unable to assist. In those cases you might use the word "drag".